THE NUMBER of travellers using trains in Huddersfield has shot up, according to official figures.

All stations on the Penistone Line from Huddersfield to Denby Dale experienced increased passenger numbers between April 2009 and March 2011, figures from the Office of Rail Regulation reveal.

Over 500,000 (14%) more passengers passed through Huddersfield Station from April 2010 to March 2011 with the number rising to 4.1m, compared with the period from April 2009 to March 2010 (3.58m).

Brockholes and Denby Dale both experienced increases of around 9% in passenger numbers over the same period.

Denby Dale Station received 137,398 passengers in 2010/11 compared with 126,086 in 2009/10, while Brockholes received 54,018 in 2010/11 compared with 49,622 the previous year.

Honley Station experienced a 7.5% increase in passenger numbers over the same period.

Lockwood, Berry Brow, Stocksmoor and Shepley also experienced small increases in passenger numbers.

Most stations on the South Yorkshire side of the Penistone Line experienced moderate increases in passenger numbers, while Penistone and Dodworth stations experienced minor decreases.

Improved reliability together with increased fuel and parking prices are thought to have pushed more travellers on to the trains, says Peter Marshall, chairman of the Huddersfield Penistone Sheffield Rail Users’ Association.

Mr Marshall said: “It has quite surprised us. We think it’s possibly due to people deciding to use the train rather than the car during the recession.

“It could also be caused by leisure travellers.

“It’s also surprising that it’s the West Yorkshire end of the line rather than the South Yorkshire side.

“I think petrol price increases have been a contributory factor and people’s purses are being squeezed a lot harder. Car parking charges are up.

“The trains are now much more reliable. People don’t feel as vulnerable on the station if they know the train will turn up on time. We’ve noticed that mid and late evening travel has increased”.